Charleston – Local businesses and organizations are invited to learn more about reporting unclaimed property to the state at a half-day seminar scheduled in Charleston. The seminars are free, but preregistration is required.

The seminars will be held:

May 29

9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

South Slough Interpretive Center

61907 Seven Devils Road

Charleston

More information, including registration, is available on the DSL website, or by calling seminar coordinator Carolyn Harris: 503-986-5290.

“Unclaimed property is anything from uncashed payroll checks to abandoned fina​ncial accounts that a business or organization holds for an unreachable party,” said Pat Tate, unclaimed property manager in the Department of State Lands (DSL). “People mistakenly think unclaimed property is land or buildings, especially since we’re part of the Department of State Lands,” he said.

State law requires all businesses and organizations to remit unclaimed property to DSL, where it is held in trust forever for the rightful owner. The funds are held in the Common School Fund, a trust fund whose earnings are sent twice yearly to Oregon’s 197 public school districts.